Patrick McGee on Apple in China

ChinaTalk | 24 June 2025 | 1h 10m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify

Interview with Patrick McGee about his book Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company. Discusses the history of Apple’s relationship with China, where iPhone manufacturing became a project of nation-building; why Apple moved production to China in the 1990s, and why it struggles to leave; how Apple’s obsession with perfection catalyzed China’s industrial upgrading; the political side of production in China, including how Apple’s relationship with the Chinese authorities has evolved; the rise of Foxconn and other partners in Apple’s network; and anecdotes about Apple’s management style, including the “Divorce Avoidance Program.”